Mold for continuous casting of slab ingots

ABSTRACT

Twin cavity mold with adjustable cross-sectional dimensions and variable cavity taper.

United States Patent [191 Strack et al. 1 Feb. 20, 1973 [54] MOLD FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING [56] References Cited OF SLAB INGOTS UNITED STATES PATENTS [75] Inventors: Friedhelm Strack, Duisburg; Erich p 4 Dusseldorf; Klaus 3,583,473 6/1971 Strohschem Ct al. ..l64/273 R 233* FOREiGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l 4 [73] Assignee: Mannesmann Aktiengesellschaft, 11/1967 Germany 164/273 Dusseldorf Germany Primary Examiner-J. Spencer Overholser [22] Filed: Jan. 15, 1971 Assistant Examiner-V. K. Rising Att -S th, R t & P t: 211 Appl. No.2 106,696 my OS on [57] ABSTRACT 52 us. CI ..l64/273, 164 280 Twin cavity mold with adjustable crowsecfional [51] II?!- Cldimensions and variable cavity taper. [58] Field of Search ..l64/273, 280

5 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures MOLD FOR CONTINUOUS CASTING OF SLAB INGOTS The present invention relates to a mold for continuous casting of slab ingots, having two long sides, outer, adjustable, short sides and at least one stationary divider, to establish plural mold cavities.

Molds of the type referred to above are generally known, and they are provided to cast two or more ingots in more or less independent operation, using single mold structure. The capacity of a continuous casting machine is more fully used if a single slab ingot or several slab ingots sheet bars can be cast as desired.

The German Pat. No. 1,254,828 discloses equipment for twin bar casting using a mold with a divider constructed as a cooled wall structure with stationary siding. In case differently wide slabs are to be cast, the taper angle of the wall of the mold has to be matched to the particular width for reasons of metallurgical particulars involved in the continuous cast process.

Another type of mold is disclosed in German Pat. Nos. 1,288,757 and 1,297,291, wherein the wall distance across the cavity and the taper angle of the small sides are concurrently adjusted. Particularly, two threaded spindles are provided, connected to the small sides and driven in unison. The taper angle of the divider wall is not adjustable in any of the known molds. Thus, the divider walls have to be replaced for each change in dimensions of the ingot or ingots to be cast. Such a replacement is a time-consuming procedure because the mold has to be removed from the frame taken apart, etc.

The problem solved by the present invention is to provide for adjustment of outer and inner small sides of a multi cavity mold to permit dimensional changes, e.g., variation in the spacing between the mold sides as to distance and taper angle, without requiring the removal of the mold for such a change.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mold is provided with stationary divider wall structure associated with cavity defining plates as mold sides which are adjustably tilted in opposite directions. The plates are preferably pivotally linked to the lower end of the stationary divider wall portion, which is connected to the wide or long sides of the mold. Adjusting spindles are disposed on that stationary divider wall for adjusting the tilting angles of the plates. Also, conduits are provided for applying coolant to the plates.

For a twin cavity mold, the two outer short sides are laterally (i.e., transversely to their extension) adjustable, combined with a change in tapering angle. The respective other two short walls on the twin molds are established by the plates which are hinged to stationary divider construction, and pivot means tilt the plates on the hinge axis to adjust the tapering angles for each cavity. For this, adjustment spindles are preferably provided, cooperating with stationary construction for determining and maintaining any adjusted taper of the mold side plates. The construction permits ready adaptation to dimensional changes for the ingots to be cast.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as the invention, it is believed that the invention, the objects and features of the invention and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top view into a twin cavity mold improved in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a section view along lines A-A of FIG. 1.

Proceeding to the detailed description of the drawings, the twin cavity mold has long sides 1, and short, outer transverse sides 2. The plates defining the long sides I bear against and are mounted in a frame 3. Spindles 4 urge the sides or plates 1 towards each other to clamp the plates with backing as establishing the outer short sides 2 of the twin cavity mold. Actuator means (not shown) are linked to frame 3 to impart oscillatory motion upon the mold.

Sidewalls 2 are provided with conduits for circulation of coolant, liquid, e.g., water, as indicated by arrows. Additionally, the plates defining sidewalls 2 are mounted to or engaged by threaded adjusting spindles 5 so as to vary their distance from each other. As can be seen from FIG. 2, plural spindles are provided for each wall. For example, the lateral position of each short sidewall is adjusted by an upper and by a lower spindle. The two spindles are adjusted in unison but they have different pitch. Thus, as spindles 5 adjust the disposition of walls 2 laterally, these walls are also tilted so as to adjust the taper angle of the mold cavities as to one short side each.

The arrangement, thus far, provides for but one long mold cavity. However, a central divider arrangement biparts the cavity to establish twin mold construction; each resulting mold cavity provides for casting of a separate slab ingot. The cross-sectional (rectangular) dimensions of the two cavities and ingots are similar, though this is not necessary in principle as each outer wall 2 is individually displaceable.

The divider arrangement includes a stationary, central portion 6 carrying siding plates 7 which face and will engage the casting material when poured into the mold. Plates 7 define respectively the other two small sidewalls for the two mold cavities. Central divider 6 is secured to the long sides 1 of the mold construction. Additionally, the central divider contains conduits etc. for distributing cooling water onto plates 7 for cooling same. In particular, divider 6 is provided with pipes 8, which, in turn, communicate with pipes 9 of plates 7. The pipe 8 will be suitably connected to a water supply to sustain coolant circulation as indicated by arrows.

Plates 7 are hinged or pivotally linked to divider 6. In particular, bearing forks 10 are provided at the lower ends of plates 7, pivoted on and bearing against a bolt 11. The bolt is part of the central divider configuration and the bearings may swivel on the bolt. Adjusting screws or spindles 12 are provided at (and threaded through) the upper end of each plate 7. The spindles bear against a stop 13 that is also part of the stationary divider construction. As spindles 12 are turned, the

plates 7 turn on a common axis (of bolt 11) so that their tilting angle is adjusted accordingly.

It can thus be seen that the dimension of the two mold cavities are readily adjustable, without removal of the central divider arrangement or even of the mold as a whole. Through adjustment of spindles 5 the effective (rectangle-) length of the two slab ingots to be cast is adjusted while the taper angle of each mold cavity on r as meld side 1 is eerie of similax size in ets to be east the lates are net neeessaril ad usted by individual s indles Instead,

e member may s read the we lates 7 en te for limited to the embodiments changes and modifications i and is net desei-ibed above bu all e P i to be ineluded are ingots including two long sides, and two short sides of the mold facing each other, each short side defining one short side for one mold cavity, the short sides disposed for lateral and tilting adjustment, the im rovement comprising:

at least one stationary divider constructicrl in the mold havin tiltable plates for definin the res ective other short sides for eoin letien of mold eavities; 211d means for tiltin the lates in opposite directions 2. Mold as in l 1 2 er having mead-1s for hinging the lower ends of thc plates, thcre l thc ends of the plates for tilting Smile on an is as defined by the means for nin in 3. Mold as in claixxx 1, dad: divider censtruction eluding a wall secured to the long plates of me mod and. supportixxg mcans for hinging and th: means for tilting the plates 4. Mold as in! justing s indles.

Mela as in eleiin 1, die divider eenstrueden for P g nt te e lates elairn 3 the tilting ieans including ad- 

1. Mold for continuous casting of plural rectangular ingots including two long sides, and two short sides of the mold facing each other, each short side defining one short side for one mold cavity, the short sides disposed for lateral and tilting adjustment, the improvement comprising: at least one stationary divider construction in the mold having tiltable plates for defining the respective other short sides for completion of mold cavities; and means for tilting the plates in opposite directions.
 1. Mold for continuous casting of plural rectangular ingots including two long sides, and two short sides of the mold facing each other, each short side defining one short side for one mold cavity, the short sides disposed for lateral and tilting adjustment, the improvement comprising: at least one stationary divider construction in the mold having tiltable plates for defining the respective other short sides for completion of mold cavities; and means for tilting the plates in opposite directions.
 2. Mold as in claim 1, the divider construction having means for hinging the lower ends of the plates, there being adjusting means engaging the upper ends of the plates for tilting same on an axis as defined by the means for hinging.
 3. Mold as in claim 1, the divider construction including a wall secured to the long plates of the mold and supporting means for hinging and the means for tilting the plates.
 4. Mold as in claim 3, the tilting means including adjusting spindles. 